Method and tools for indirect bracket positioning

Abstract

The invention provides an improved method of indirect positioning of orthodontic brackets wherein a positive tooth model is utilized which comprises a model tooth, a mock bracket and a place holder for the mock bracket. The positive tooth model can be used for making a transfer tray for accommodating and transferring a bracket onto a tooth of a patient, wherein said transfer tray comprises a form-fitting cavity for the distal portion of the bracket. Further provided are transfer trays and positive tooth models for use in said method.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of indirect positioning a bracket on a tooth of a patient, the method comprising:
 providing a positive tooth model, the positive tooth model comprising a model tooth, a mock bracket, a place holder, and a model gum, wherein the mock bracket comprises a fully formed distal tie wing, and the place holder extends perpendicular from a horizontal median of the mock bracket to the gum of the tooth model; 
 using the positive tooth model for preparing a transfer tray, said transfer tray comprising at least one cavity for accommodating a distal tie wing of a bracket for the tooth of the patient; 
 fitting the bracket for the patient into the cavity of the transfer tray; 
 placing the transfer tray accommodating the bracket for the patient onto the tooth of the patient within the patient's mouth; 
 filling a space between the bracket for the patient and the tooth of the patient within the patient's mouth with a curable resin; 
 curing the curable resin thereby binding the bracket to the tooth of the patient; and 
 removing the transfer tray from the patient's mouth. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the positive tooth model comprises at least two mock brackets and a place holder for each mock bracket. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the place holder is configured to hold at least two neighboring mock brackets. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the positive tooth model is manufactured by rapid prototyping. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the positive tooth model comprises at least one line and/or at least one area of a different color than the body of the positive tooth model, said at least one line and/or at least one area indicating a position for positioning the mock bracket and/or indicating a line along which the transfer tray should be excised from a sheet of molded thermoplastic polymer. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the positive tooth model comprises an elevated area on the model tooth, said elevated area representing a position for adhering the bracket on the tooth of the patient and/or representing a unique individual base of the bracket for the tooth of the patient. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the transfer tray is manufactured by subjecting a sheet of thermoplastic polymer film to vacuum molding or pressure molding using the positive tooth model as form for molding the transfer tray. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the curable resin is a photocurable resin. 
     
     
       9. A method of indirect positioning a bracket on a tooth of a patient, the method comprising:
 providing a positive tooth model comprising a model tooth, a place holder, and a model gum, the place holder extending perpendicular from a horizontal median of a position for placing a real bracket at the model tooth down to the model gum, wherein a distal portion of the place holder is formed as a negative model of a proximal tie wing of the real bracket; and placing the proximal tie wing of the real bracket into the distal portion of the place holder in a form-fitting manner; 
 using the positive tooth model for preparing a transfer tray, the transfer tray comprising a cavity for accommodating a distal tie wing of a bracket for the tooth of the patient; 
 fitting the bracket for the patient into the cavity of the transfer tray; 
 placing the transfer tray accommodating the bracket for the patient onto the tooth of the patient within the patient's mouth; 
 filling a space between the bracket for the patient and the tooth of the patient within the patient's mouth with a curable resin; 
 curing the curable resin thereby binding the bracket to the tooth of the patient; and 
 removing the transfer tray from the patient's mouth. 
 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the positive tooth model is manufactured by rapid prototyping. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the curable resin is a photocurable resin.